Faceting head



H. L. ODLE FACETING HEAD June 2, 1964 3,135,073

Filed NOV. 7, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Harold L. Odie INVENTOR.

June 2, 1964 H. ODLE 3,135,073

FACETING HEAD Filed Nov. 7, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Harold L. Odie I N VENT 0R.

June 2, 1964 H. L. ODLE "3,135,073 FACETING HEAD Filed Nov. 7, 1962 a Sheets-Sheet a 94 90 92 42 Fig. 4

as I04 4 8 1/2 22 a 46 7a 78 '3 a a0 56 a 143 142 I08 1/0 I54 INVENTOR.

BY WWW United States Patent 3,135,073 FACETING HEAD Harold L. (idle, Wickenburg, Ariz. Filed Nov. 7, 1962, Ser. No. 235,934 8 Claims. (Cl. 51-229) This invention relates to a novel and useful faceting head which is adapted to properly position a precious or semi-precious stone for grinding and polishing the facets of the stone upon a lap stone or rotary table.

In grinding facets of a precious stone a selected number of facets or flat surfaces are formed on the stone in a row extending circumferentially about the stone and the stone may have a plurality of concentric rows of facets formed thereon at different elevations and the facets of one row may be staggered relative to the facets in the adjacent row. In this manner, the stone is cut so as to have a large number of fiat surfaces disposed relative to each other so as to enable the stone to reflect a maximum amount of light.

When grinding the facets of a stone each row of facets is individually formed and the stone is usually supported upon a 'dop stick with the dop stick being supported in a manner so that it may be adjustably positioned about its longitudinal axis in predetermined positions of rotation. Means is provided for swingably supporting the dop stick for rotation about an axis extending perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the dop stick and disposed in a plane which is also perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the dop stick. Accordingly, as the dop stick is successive- 1y positioned in each of the predetermined positions of rotation and the stone is brought into engagement with the rotary table, a plurality of facets will be ground on the stone and the facets will be spaced circumferentially about the stone. Each row of facets on a gem or stone has the facets thereof disposed at a different angle relative to the axis of rotation of the dop stick and in addition the dop stick is rotated about its longitudinal axis slightly from the position at which it was disposed when the corresponding facet of the previous row of facets was ground. In this manner, the facets of one row will be staggered relative to the facets of the adjacent row or rows.

The main object of this invention is to provide a faceting head for grinding and polishing facets on precious or semi-precious stones which is constructed in a manner whereby even an unskilled person may properly position the dop stick supporting the stone being ground relative to a lap table and successively properly adjustably rotate the dop stick about its longitudinal axis to form the facets of each row of facets to be formed on the stone.

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a device which will also enable even the unskilled person to properly stagger the facets of one row of facets relative to the facets of another row of facets formed about the stone being ground.

A still further object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding objects, is to provide a faceting head including means by which the dop stick by which the stone being ground is supported may be very slightly rotatably adjusted about its longitudinal axis if such adjustment is required to compensate for any irregularities caused by too much of the stone being ground away while forming one of the facets thereon.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a faceting head in accordance with the preceding objects including means for adjustably positioning the faceting head axially of the axis of rotation of the associated rotary table or lap stone by means of a threaded member.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a faceting head for grinding and polishing facets on precious and semi-precious stones 3,135,073 Patented June 2, 1964 companying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which: FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the faceting head of the instant invention;

FEGURE 2 is a top plan of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the upper portion of the faceting head illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 69 are fragmentary sectional views similar to that of FIGURE 5 showing the manner in which the mount for the sleeve of the faceting head may be properly indexed to form first the top main facets, the first and second set of girdle facets and the table facets respectively and each including a diagrammatic top plan View of the manner in which a stone may be ground successively by the indexed positions of the support sleeve for the dop stick; and

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the mounting sleeve shown supported from the support shank of the faceting head.

The numeral 10 generally designates the faceting head assembly of the instant invention which is to be supported adjacent a rotary table 12 which is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. An elongated guide or Way assembly 14- may be fixedly supported relative to the axis of rotation of the lap table 12 and the faceting head assembly includes a base 16 which is slidably mounted upon the way 14 for movement longitudinally thereof toward and away from the axis of rotation of the lap table 12. The base 16 includes a setscrew 18 whereby the position of the base 16 relative to the way 14 may be properly maintained.

The faceting head assembly includes a standard or upstanding support 20 whose lower end is secured to the base 16 in any convenient manner. The standard 20 is cylindrical and one end of an elongated arm assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 22 has a transverse bore 24 formed therethrough which slidably and rotatably receives the upper end of the standard 20. The arm assembly 22 includes a setscrew 26 which may be tightened in the threaded bore 28 formed in the arm assembly 22 so as to retain the arm assembly 22 in adjusted elevated positions along the standard 20.

The arm assembly 22 includes first and second sections 39 and 32 and it may be seen from FIGURE 2 of the drawings that the end of the second section 32 remote from the standard 24) has a dovetailed slot 34 formed therein which generally parallels the bore 24. The first section 30 includes a projection which is complementary to and snugly and slidably received within the dovetailed slot 34 and which is designated by the reference numeral 36. The end of the second section 32 remote from the standard 20 also includes a recess 33 which opens away from the standard 26 and the first section 30 includes a projection 49 which is received within the recess 38. It is to be noted that the recess 38 opens into the dovetailed slot 34. An adjusting screw 42 is rotatably journaled in a pair of aligned bores 44 and 46 formed in the end of the second section 32 adjacent the dovetailed slot 34 and the mid-portion of the adjusting screw 42 is threaded as at 47 and is threadedly engaged in a threaded bore 48 formed in the projection 48. Accordingly, it may be seen that the first section 31) may be raised and lowered relative to the second section 32 and along a line generally paralleling the longitudinal axis of the support 21) by rotation of the adjusting screw 42.

A generally U-shaped mount referred to in general by the reference numeral 50 is provided and includes a pair of legs 52 and 54 which are interconnected at corresponding ends by means of a bight portion 56. The free ends of the legs 52 and 54 are'provided with aligned bores (not shown) in which aligned stub axles 58 and 68 are sup ported. The stub axles 58 and 60 include headed remote end portions 62 and 64 respectively and threaded intermediate portions 66 which are threadedly engaged in the threaded fittings 68 received in the aligned bores (not shown) formed in the free ends of the legs 52 and 54. An axle member 70 is rotatably supported from the stub axles 58 and 60 and it will be noted that the remote ends of the axle member 70 and adjacent ends of the stub axles 58 and 60 may have complementary tapered recesses and projections disposed in seated engagement with each other whereby a controlled amount of friction may be effected between the stub axles 58 and 60 and the axle member 70.

It may be seen from FIGURE 4 of the drawings that the end of the first section 30 remote from the second section 32 is bifurcated and includes a pair of furcations or arms 74 and 76 having aligned threaded bores 78 formed therethrough. A pair of stub axles 80 are threadedly engaged in each of the threaded bores 78 and provided with a locknut 82. The adjacent ends of the stub axles 80 are provided with conical tips 84 and an axle member 86 which is disposed at right angles to the axle member 70 and rigidly secured thereto includes conical blind bores 88 in which the conical tips 84 are seatingly received. In this manner, the axle member 86 is rotatably supoprted for rotation about its longitudinal axis and the ends of the arms 52 and 54 remote from the bight portion 56 are pivotally supported for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the axle member 70.

A sector plate 90 having indicia 92 formed thereon is rigidly supported from the arm 52 and a pointer 94 carried by the axle member 7 is registrable with the indicia 92 to indicate the angle of inclination of the arms 52 and 54 relative to the axis of rotation of the axle member 86.

A shank member generally referred to by the reference numeral 98 includes a diametrically reduced portion 100 which is secured through a bore 102 formed in the bight portion 56 by means of a threaded nut 104. A pointer 106 is also secured to the bight portion 56 by means of the diametrically reduced portion 100 and the nut 104. A mounting plate 108 is rotatably supported on an inan indexing lug 114 projecting outwardly therefrom formed thereon. The mounting plate 108 includes an received. The other end of the adjusting screw 120 is slidingly received through an abutment 122 pivotally supported from the mount 58 and a compression spring 124 is disposed between the abutment 122 and the socket 118. An adjusting nut 126 is threadedly engaged with the end of the adjusting screw 126 which projects through the abutment 122 and it may therefore be seen that the mounting plate 188 may be swung about the longitudinal axis of the shank assembly 98.

The indexing plate 112 includes a plurality of notches 138, 132, 134 and 136 formed about its periphery with which a spring detent 138 carried by the arm 116 is engageable. It will be noted that the spring detent 138 may be selectively engaged with any one of the notches 130, 132, 134 and 136 in order to properly orientate the indexing plate 112 relative to the mount 50.

The shank assembly 98 includes a truncated coneshaped end portion 140 which projects away from the mount 50 and a sleeve assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 142 includes a cone-shaped base portion 144 having a tapered bore 146 formed therein in which the truncated cone-shaped end portion 140 is snugly receivable. In addition, the sleeve assembly includes an annular washer-like member 148 which is secured to the major'diameter end portion of the base portion 144 and snugly receives a cylindrical portion 151) of the shank assembly 98 disposed between the intermediate portion 118 and the truncated cone-shaped end portion 140. The washer-like member 148 is provided with a plurality of radial notches 152 which are equally spaced circumferentially about the washer-like member 148. The indexing lug 114 carried by the indexing plate 112 is alternately receivable in the notches 152 upon axial movement of the truncated cone-shaped end portion 140 relative to the sleeve assembly 142 and into seated engagementin the tapered bore 146.

The sleeve assembly 142 includes a cylindrical end portion 154 which has a plurality of longitudinal slots 156 formed therein that define collet fingers 158 therebetween for clampingly engaging a dop stick 160. The dop stick 160 has a stone 162 secured to one end and the remote end of the dop stick 160 is clampingly engaged between the collet fingers 158 of the cylindrical end portion 154 and a threaded nut 164 is engaged with the tapered threaded free ends of the collet fingers 158 to retain the dop stick in adjusted rotated positions within the cylindrical end portions 154.

In operation, the stone 162 is first secured in the conventional manner to the free end of the dop stick 160. The remote end of the dop stick 160 is then clampingly engaged between the collet fingers 158 of the cylindrical end portion 154. Thereafter, the height of the arm assembly 22 may be properly adjusted and set by means of the setscrew 26 and the height of the first section 30 relative to the second section 32 of the arm assembly 22 may be properly set by means of the adjusting screw 42. Thereafter, the sleeve assembly 142 may be seatingly engaged with the truncated cone-shaped end portion 140 of the shank assembly 98 with the indexing lug 114 engaged with one of the notches 152 formed in the washer-like member 148. Thereafter, the spring detent 138 is first engaged with the notch 132 formed in the mounting plate 108. Then the stone 162 may be brought into engagement with the lap table 12 in order to form the first of the main top facets on the stone 162. After the first main top facet 170 has been formed, the sleeve assembly 142 may be successively engaged with the shank assembly 98 and in adjusted rotated positions relative to the latter determined by successive engagement of the indexing lug 114 with the remainder of the notches 152 formed in the washer-like member 148. Each time the indexing lug 114 is seated within the next notch 152, the corresponding main top facet 170 is formed on the stone 162 by the lap table 112.

After all of the main top facets 170 have been formed, the entire process is repeated after the mounting plate 108 has been rotated slightly relative to the shank assembly 98 and the spring detent 138 has been engaged with the notch 130 as viewed in FIGURE 7 of the drawings. With the spring detent 138 in this position, the first row of girdle facets 172 may be formed. Thereafter, the second row of girdle facets 174 may be formed on the stone 162 by successively engaging the indexing lug 114 with the notches 152 when the spring detent 138 is seated in the notch 134 formed in the washer-like member 148 as viewed in FIGURE 8 of the drawings. Finally, the table facets 176 may be formed on the stone 162 by successively engaging the indexing lug 114 with the notches 152 formed in the washer-like member 148 after the spring detent 138 has been seated in the notch 136 formed in the mounting plate 108.

The depth or size of each of the facets being cut may be accurately determined by noting the angle of inclination of the mounts 50 relative to the arm assembly 22 and if it is desired the depth of the cut of each facet may be controlled by the adjusting screw 42, after the adjusted rotated position of the mount 50 relative to the arm assembly 22 has been fixed by the tightening of the stub axles 58 and 60 in order to increase the friction between the stub axles 53 and 6t) and the axle member 70. In this manner, the angle of the sleeve assembly 142 may be maintained constant relative to the arm assembly 22 and the first section 36) of the arm assembly 22 may be raised and lowered relative to the second section 32 thereof the correct distance in order to form facets having the desired depth of cut or plan area.

If it is desired, slight variations in the adjusted rotated positions of the sleeve assembly 142 relative to the shank assembly 98 other than those which may be accomplished by the engagement of the indexing lug 114 with the notches 152 and the spring detent 138 with the notches 130, 132, 134 and 136, may be obtained by the rotation of the adjusting nut 126. Accordingly, it may be seen that very accurate work may be accomplished by means of the faceting head of the instant invention in lieu of the fine adjustments which are possible by means of the adjusting nut 126 and the adjusting nut 42.

While the use of most lapidary devices requires many years of instruction and practice to master in order that acceptable work may be accomplished, the faceting head of the instant invention is constructed in a manner whereby the chances for error have been substantially reduced thereby enabling persons having average aptitude to turn out acceptable work with only a day or so instruction and practice.

It can be appreciated that the sleeve assembly 142 is removably supported on the shank assembly 93. Therefore, any selected one of a plurality of sleeve assemblies may be used with each sleeve assembly providing for different indexing of the stone being out. Further, it is possible that acombination of two or more sleeve assemblies could be used to properly index the stone for successive cutting operations.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted, to falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A faceting head for grinding and polishing facets on precious or semi-precious stones comprising an elongated conical shank supported from a mount for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said mount being adapted to be mounted from a support for movement toward and away from a lap stone and for movement about an axis extending at right angles relative to the axis of rotation of said lap stone, a collet sleeve having means on one end adapted to frictionally grip a dop stick having a stone mounted thereon and a conical bore formed in the other end, said other end of said sleeve being releasably and rotatably mounted on said conical shank, the friction between the complementary surfaces of said shank and bore being sufiicient for effectively resisting axial disengagement of said sleeve from said shank, said shank and sleeve including first coacting indexing means for releasably retaining said sleeve in predetermined adjusted rotated position relative to said shank, and second coacting indexing means carried by said mount and said shank for releasably retaining said shank in adjusted predetermined rotated positions relative to said mount.

2. The combination of claim 1 including third means connected between said shank and mount for adjustably rotating said shank relative to said mount independently of said second means.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said third means includes a threaded connection between said mount and shank.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said faceting head includes a support arm, means pivotally securing said amount on said support arm for movement about an axis disposed in a plane at right angles to the axis of rotation of said shank.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said arm includes first and second sections, said mount being pivotally secured to said first section and means mounting said first section on said second section for movement laterally of the axis of rotation of said mount.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said faceting head includes an elongated support, means mounting said section from said support for movement longitudinally there along and in a direction extending transversely of the axis of rotation of said mount.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first and second means comprise detent means.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first means comprises detent means including first and second portions carried by said shank and sleeve respectively and engageable with each other upon axial movement of said sleeve into seated engagement with said tapered portion of said shank.

Collar Jan. 29, 1957 Ticino Jan, 15, 1963 

1. A FACETING HEAD FOR GRINDING AND POLISHING FACETS ON PRECIOUS OR SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES COMPRISING AN ELONGATED CONICAL SHANK SUPPORTED FROM A MOUNT FOR ROTATION ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS, SAID MOUNT BEING ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED FROM A SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM A LAP STONE AND FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS EXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES RELATIVE TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID LAP STONE, A COLLET SLEEVE HAVING MEANS ON ONE END ADAPTED TO FRICTIONALLY GRIP A DOP STICK HAVING A STONE MOUNTED THEREON AND A CONICAL BORE FORMED IN THE OTHER END, SAID OTHER END OF SAID SLEEVE BEING RELEASABLY AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CONICAL SHANK, THE FRICTION BETWEEN THE COMPLEMENTARY SURFACES OF SAID SHANK AND BORE BEING SUFFICIENT FOR EFFECTIVELY RESISTING AXIAL DISENGAGEMENT OF SAID SLEEVE FROM SAID SHANK, SAID SHANK AND SLEEVE INCLUDING FIRST COACTING INDEXING MEANS FOR RELEASABLY RETAINING SAID SLEEVE IN PREDETERMINED ADJUSTED ROTATED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID SHANK, AND SECOND COACTING INDEXING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID MOUNT AND SAID SHANK FOR RELEASABLY RETAINING SAID SHANK IN ADJUSTED PREDETERMINED ROTATED POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAID MOUNT. 